Extensible band



M. COWAN EXTENSIBLE BAND July 4, 1950 lllrrlflillllllillllllllalllin lc:l /11 (H 1a 1o 11\ Filed March 6, 1946 lNvl-:NTOR Morris Cowan 4%@ ATTORNEYS Patented July 4, 1950 UNITE-D `.S'rAT-1E-S PATENT OFFICE "EXTENSIBLE BAND AMorris Cowan, New York,.N.lY. Applicaton March 6, 194'6,"SerialNo.` '652,268

Claims.

-Thelpresent inventionr'elatesto an extensible band and it particularly relates toa full expansion bracelet or similar article. I

"It is among the objects 'of the-present inven- 'ton'to provide-a readily manufactured, simple, decorative, durable, compact, full expansion band `or Vbracelet of novel designfwhichmaybe used `to carry a watch or jewelry." V Still further objects and advantages `will 'appear in the more detailed descriptionset forth below, itbeing "understood, however, that this more detailed description'isgiven by'way of illus- `tration and explanation only and 'not by way vof limitation,'since various 'changes therein may be made by those skilled inthe art without departing `from the scope and spirit or t'hefpresent invention.

bracelet or band, thesprings will then cause th links to draw the boxes together.

In the drawings, there is shown by way of illustration several embodiments of the several features of the present invention.

In the drawings: l* Fig. l is a top-plan vi'ewtuponanenlarged scale, partly in sectiomoi uone portion vof an unextended bracelet or band according to the present in vention,

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, upon an enlarged scale as compared to Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing the bracelet or band in partly extended condition,

Fig. 4 is a side perspective View of one of the flat plate link elements, removed from the assembly of Figs. 1 to 3, upon substantially the scale of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a side perspective View, partly in section, of one of the dat box or container elements removed from the assembly of Figs. 1 to 3 upon substantially the scale of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a side perspective View similar to Fig. 4 of an alternative form of link element,

Fig. 7 is a side perspective View, partly in secconstruction,

`'Fig-.8 iis a tplankview .of an alternative ."form of lfiat Vwire spring shaped inrthe form of an -1N, and

Fig. '9 is a transverse sectional view, similar to Fig.` 2, `showing an `alternative mesh link construction.

Referring to Figs. 1 to` 5, the iiat boxes, capsules, containers orreceptacles A receive the ends fof vthe 'atlinks orconnector plates or elements'C, the separators B and `the flat X-shape'd `Iwire springs D. The box 5A has the `end walls I0, the

top :and bottom walls` II and the side v.Walls I2 dimensions 'ofthe 'box A. The plates I5I have `outturned endzflanges Hi, `which `extend -tofan'd contact the inside rfaces of the top and bottom Walls vI I` of fthe'boxes A. The link or plate-elements I4 of the links 4C also have outturned flanges I 9 at their inside `edges extending substantially the full distance between 'the"p1ates 15 of the separators Bland .th'ewalls I'I. `1It will be noted that the plates Ml are ofsomewhat :less iwidth than tlsie'boxes A to t in andslide through the slots I3.

The outside edges of `the 'plates I4 are respective-ly Vprovided with `inturned ears 46 and ra turned-over portion or eye `II, which receive the hinge pin. I 8 `formingl a neatenclosed `hinging point. I

4Between the `Iianges I 9 lof the plates `Ill and the side walls I2 :of vthev boxes Aare the dat X-shaped thin wire springs D. The springs D have the `base-portions 20,- which may be: clipped or soldered to` the Aianges .I 9, and lthefcrossin'g legs 2 I which bear against the side walls I2. The ends 22 of the legs 2| are turned outwardly to slide more readily against the walls I2.

In operation, as the boxes or receptacles A separate, the links or plates I4 will be withdrawn through the slots I3 with the hinge pins I8 taking up any play. At the same time, the X of the springs D will flatten, with the ends 22 of the legs 2| sliding toward the end walls I0. As soon as the separating pressure or tension tending to expand the band or bracelet is released, the tensioned springs D press the anges I9 back into the boxes A until they are stopped by the anges I6 of the separators B.

The entire structure is very light and compact, with all working parts concealed in the boxes A. The bracelet is durable and not readily subject to damage since the boxes A protect the plates I 4 as well as the springs D.

In Figs. 6 and 7 are shown alternative link, box

and spring constructions, respectively, similarly functioning parts being indicated by the same letters or numerals as in Figs. 1 to 4 primed. In Fig. 6 the plates I4 are provided with alternating intertting turned over portions or eyes 46' and l1' receiving the pivot or hinge pin I8. In Fig. 7 the separator B' is made integral with the box A'. In Fig. 8, the spring D' is illustratively shown in the alternative form of an N and may be doubled, with two Ns overlying each other and their legs 2| crossing.

In the embodiment of Fig. 9, the hinges of Figs. 1 to 5 are omitted and the platey |42 is formed of a continuous mesh (similarly functioning parts being indicated by the same letters and numerals as in Figs. 1 to 5, with a' superior;

2). The ends of the mesh |42 are clipped by the edges D of the ange elements |92.

The containers, capsules or receptacles A may be of varying shapes and sizes and if desired, :they may be made from', or folded out of, a sheet The end walls I0 are formed by anges I4, I4' and |42 overlap within the enclosures A,

A and A2 and are only separated by the elements B, B' and B2. y As many changes could be made in the above extensible band and bracelet, and many widely varying embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims', it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An extensible band, suitable for use as a bracelet, a plurality of flat rectangular boxes with top and bottom Walls and end and edge side walls connecting said top and bottom walls with :substantially equal volume upper and lower comimmediately above and below said partition and extending into the upper compartment at one end of the box and into the lower compartment 4 at the other end of the box and said slots facing slots in the end wall of the next adjacent box, flat extension members extending between said boxes and through said slots, said extension members being provided with outturned flanges at their inside edges within said boxes, and at springs acting on said anges to urge said members inwardly through said slots.

2. An extensible band, suitable for use as a bracelet, a plurality of at rectangular boxes with top and bottom walls and end and edge side walls connecting said top and bottom walls with substantially equal volume upper and lower compartments separated by an internal partition extending substantially the width and length of the box, said boxes being positioned in sequence to form a band, the boxes being provided with lateral slots almost as wide as the box in the end walls, said slots being closely adjacent to and immediately above and below said partition and extending into the upper compartment at one end of the box and into the lower compartment at the other end of the box and said slots facing slots in the end Wall of the next adjacent box, fiat connection members extending between said boxes and through said slots, said connection members being provided with outturned anges at their inside edges within said boxes, and flat springs acting on said flanges to urge said members inwardly through said slots, said springs being formed of flat bent wire elements. f

3. The band of claim 1 in which the springs consist of X-shaped wire spring elements the legs of the X being joined adjacent the ange.

4. The band of claim 1, said top, bottom, end and edge walls of each box being folded up out of a single integral thin sheet metal blank.

5'. The band of claim 1, said flat connection members being provided with two hinging sections connected by an intermediate hinge connection acting as a separator between the boxes when the boxes are drawn together to give mini mum length of the band.

MORRIS COWAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: v

UNITED STATES PATENTS Anderson Nov. 24, 1931 

